CityPlex 12 theater in Newark to unveil renovations

2008 Star-Ledger file photoThis is Newark Screens 6 prior to the movie theater's renovation and renaming. It is now called CityPlex 12 and has undergone extensive renovations over the course of the year. The remaining eight auditoriums, which contain digital projection, stadium seating and 3-D capabilities, are set to open to the public Friday.

NEWARK — Now that renovations are finished, the CityPlex 12 is reopening with all of its auditoriums, which offer digital projection, 3-D capabilities and stadium seating, according to a news release.

Mayor Cory Booker and Newark native Shaquille O'Neal are set to the host the ribbon-cutting Friday at 1 p.m. City officials are expected to also be in attendance.

Formerly the Newark Screens 6, the Springfield Avenue theater closed for renovations in December. It partially re-opened over Memorial Day Weekend, using four of its 12 auditoriums as construction continued on the remainder of the building, said Enrico Paola, the theater's marketing director.

By the late afternoon Friday, all auditoriums will be open to the public, at least one of which will be showing "Finding Nemo 3-D," Paola said.

The flagship auditorium is known as the SHAQ-DX, which is equipped with 300 leather seats, a 47-foot-wide screen and Dolby Digital 7.1 sound, the release said. Closing night of the Newark Museum's Newark Black Film Festival was held at CityPlex 12 in August.